Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Three-game series

When: Tuesday through Thurday (7:05 each night)

Where: McCormick Field (Asheville, N.C.)

Robert Bono

Legends RHP Ross Seaton is set to start Wednesday. (Staff photo/Mark Cornelison)

David Duncan

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Robert Bono (8-8, 3.41) vs. RH Alan DeRatt (2-3, 4.91); Wednesday, RH Ross Seaton (8-10, 3.31) vs. RH Carlos Luna (0-0, 7.56); Thursday, LH David Duncan (4-3, 4.24) vs. RH Juan Nicasio (8-3, 2.41).

Tourist to watch: Switch-hitting CF Delta Cleary Jr. (6-foot-3, 180 pounds, from Jonesboro, Ark.) entered the season as the 11th-best prospect in the Rockies system, according to Baseball America. Through Sunday, he is hitting .258 with seven homers and 43 RBI over 100 games. He has stolen 31 bases in 42 attempts and scored 50 runs. He had three hits in each game, Saturday and Sunday, at Bowling Green. Rated by Baseball America as “best athlete” in the Rockies system, Cleary is a cousin of NBA pro Shawn Marion. Cleary, a guard, averaged 13 points a game to help his high school to the Arkansas Class 6A state title. He also quarterbacked the football team. Cleary then led his junior-college baseball team to the Division II national championship. Selected by Colorado in the 37th round of the 2008 draft, out of Louisiana State-Eunice JC, Cleary broke in to pro ball last year with Casper of the Pioneer League. There, he hit .276 with three homers, nine RBI and four stolen bases in 27 games.

Michael Hacker

Legend to watch: LHP Michael Hacker (5-9, 175, from Folsom, Calif.) struck out two Saturday in a scoreless inning of relief against the Hickory Crawdads. That was his first appearance since July 16 and bodes well after a horrendous season up to that point. His numbers: 0-1, 2.69 ERA, 20 strikeouts, 15 walks. Selected by the Houston Astros in the 25th round of the 2008 draft, out of Cosumnes River (Calif.) Junior College, Hacker played for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League last year. Over 23 appearances, all in relief, Hacker went 1-3 with five saves and a 2.73 ERA. He worked 26 1/3 innings, striking out 27 and walking 17. He held opposing batters to a .187 average and did not allow an earned run in his first 17 games. He was especially tough on the road, with an ERA of 1.08.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

MVP Jordan Pacheco

Derek Norris, top prospect

Also of note: Former Lafayette High School and University of Kentucky standout Michael Bertram is the Eastern League Player of the Week. Bertram, a third baseman for the Double-A Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves, went 9-for-26 (.346) with two doubles, two triples and two homers. He drove in 11 runs, scored eight times, walked three times and finished with an .808 slugging percentage for six games. … No Legends were on the annual list of SAL all-stars revealed Monday. The Charleston RiverDogs led the way with three selections: RHP David Phelps, 3B Corban Joseph and Melky Mesa (utility OF). West Virginia’s Rudy Owens was named Most Outstanding Pitcher, going 10-1 with a 1.70 ERA over 19 games before being promoted to Lynchburg of the Carolina League. Hagerstown Suns catcher Derek Norris, batting .288 with 122 hits and 23 homers in 121 games, was tabbed Most Outstanding Major League Prospect. Asheville catcher Jordan Pacheco, batting .325 with 139 hits and 13 homers through 111 games, was named MVP. Selections came from a vote of SAL field managers, general managers, sportswriters and broadcasters. Lakewood’s Dusty Wathan was selected as manager, Greenville’s Bob Kipper as coach. Other players picked: Asheville’s Scott Robinson (OF); Hagerstown’s Stephen Lombardozzi (2B); Augusta’s Josh Mazzola (1B); Bowling Green’s Tim Beckham (SS); Delmarva’s Ronnie Welty (OF); Hickory’s Erik Morrison (utility IF), and Lakewood’s Anthony Gose (OF).

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

When: Saturday through Tuesday (7:05 Saturday, Monday and Tuesday nights; 2:05 Sunday afternoon)

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Ross Seaton (8-8, 2.67) vs. RH Dan Houston (5-8, 3.95); Sunday, LH David Duncan (1-3, 4.40) vs. RH Jonnathan Aristil (2-6, 4.70); Monday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (7-10, 3.81) vs. TBA; Tuesday, Jordan Lyles (6-10, 3.44) vs. TBA.

Tourist to watch: LF Scott Robinson (6-foot, 185 pounds, from McDonough, Ga.) leads the Tourists in runs (71), hits (124), doubles (27), stolen bases (37), games (97) and at-abats (391). He’s batting .317 with three homers and 31 RBI. Selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 30th round of the 2006 draft, Robinson played the 2007 season for the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League, compiling a .240 average, five homers, 25 RBI and 10 steals over 50 games. Last year, with the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League, he hit .268 with six homers, 25 RBI and 15 steals over 59 games.

Antonio Noguera

Legend to watch: LHP Antonio Noguera (6-3, 194, from Caracas, Venezuela) joined the Legends last week, promoted from the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League. The southpaw has made a pair of one-inning, shutout relief appearances for the Legends, with combined totals of one hit, one walk and one striketout. In 14 games with the ValleyCats, Noguera compiled a 2-0 record and 3.62 ERA, with eight walks to 21 strikeouts over 27 1/3 innings. Signed by the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent in September of 2004, when he was 16, Noguera also pitched for Tri-City last season. There, he was 2-8 with a 7.59 ERA over 15 games, including 13 starts. He walked 21 and struck out 24 over 53 1/3 innings. 

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Jordan Lyles

Also of note: Jordan Lyles, scheduled to start Tuesday’s game for the Legends, is on Baseball America’s “Prospect Hot Sheet” this week. … Members of the Breathitt County Junior Red Cross Club will attend Saturday’s game. When massive flooding took place in Eastern Kentucky last May, club members voted to use all available funds to help those affected by the floods. That included money for the club’s annual trip to a Legends game, which is a reward to students for their service. Officials from several agencies, including the Legends, Central Bank and

Patrick Urckfitz

Jay Austin

Trust, Aramark and the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross stepped in to fund Saturday’s trip. … Fans are invited to come early for Tuesday’s game and take part in the Family Fun Fest, just outside the ballpark gates. The Fun Fest, free to the public opens at 4 p.m. More than 20 attractions will be available, including batting and pitching cages, bungee runs, super slides, bounce houses, video arcade, a “rookie

Andy Simunic

zone” and a minor-league museum. Fans also can put their own photos on free souvenir baseball cards or on a Sports Illustrated for Kids magazine cover. … Legends players of the month for July, as selected by the coaching staff, are LH Patrick Urckfitz (Pitcher), CF Jay Austin (Offensive) and IF Andy Simunic (Defensive). Urckfitz was 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA over 10 relief appearnaces. Austin was 31-for-107 (.290) with nine extra-base hits, 10 RBI and eight steals over 26 games. Simunic has a .973 fielding percentage (five errors in 184 chances) over 51 games this season. … Former Legends picking up team Player of the Month honors in the Astros system include: Round Rock Express OF Brian Bogusevic (Offensive); Corpus Christi Hooks IF Jhon Florentino (Defensive); and Lancaster JetHawks RH Leandro Cespedes (Pitcher). … Mike Tauser’s “Farmstros Five” of the week: Gulf Coast League Astros IF Enrique Hernandez; Lyles; Lancaster OF/C Koby Clemens; Corpus Christi OF Drew Locke; and “top performer” Wilton Lopez, RHP for Corpus Christi.

First Jodie Meeks. Now Clint Tilford.

Clint Tilford

A day after Meeks announced that he won’t be returning to the University of Kentucky for his senior season, comes word that Tilford also won’t be back, having agreed to terms with the Colorado Rockies.

Of course, we’re talking apples and oranges here. Meeks is pursuing professional basketball, Tilford pro baseball.

And, Kentucky basketball being what it is, you no doubt know all about Meeks. Tilford, for most, not so much.

Nevertheless, the loss of Tilford will have impact the baseball Wildcats, who graduated weekend starters James Paxton and Chris Rusin.

A right-handed pitcher from West Paducah and Heath High School, Tilford was selected by the Rockies in the 31st round (931 overall) of last week’s Major League draft. The 6-foot, 195-pounder was one of four Cats drafted, along with seven players signed by UK for next season.

The Rockies have assigned Tilford to their rookie-league team in the Pioneer League, the Casper (Wyo.) Ghosts. Casper opens its season in one week, June 23, with a seven-game road trip. 

“First, I want to thank Coach Brad Bohannon and Coach Gary Henderson for recruiting me and giving me an opportunity to play at Kentucky,” Tilford said in a statement released by UK. “I really enjoyed my time at Kentucky and wouldn’t change anything about my time there. I learned a lot about the game of baseball during my three years and hope to do my best to represent the program in the future.”

Tilford pitched in 23 games this season, including eight starts. He was used mostly in late-inning relief against Southeastern Conference teams, and as a mid-week starter in non-conference play. He wound up 1-4 with a 7.05 ERA over 52 1/3 innings. He walked 24 and struck out 34, and opposing teams hit .332 against him. But he showed enough flashes to indicate that, with maturity and more work, he may have what it takes to pitch at a higher level. Through his first nine appearances, Tilford had an ERA of 3.16.

He got the start April 28 against in-state rival Louisville. Tilford worked 5 1/3 innings that day, holding the Cardinals to one earned run on seven hits. He struck out five and did not issue a walk. Perhaps his best outing came against Indiana State on March 8, when he fired five innings of two-hit, shutout relief, striking out three.

Tilford’s three-year totals include 50 games, 19 starts, a 5-4 record and 5.85 ERA. He struck out 76 and walked 58 over 112 1/3 innings.

Clint Tilford’s statistics with Kentucky
Year      ERA   W-L   G   GS   CG   SHO   Sv     IP        H     R     ER   BB   SO   2B   3B   HR    BF   Avg.   WP   HB   Bk   SFA   SHA
2007      5.21   1-0  11      3      0       0       0    19.0        31    13     11      7    13      5      0     1     98   .356       3      1     0       1        2
2008      4.61   3-0  16      8      0       0       0    41.0        42    26     21    27    29      5      1      3  187   .271       5      1     0       0        4
2009      7.05   1-4  23      8      0       0       0    52.1        75    48     41    24    34    13      0      6  265   .332       8      7     1       3        5
Totals    5.85  5-4  50    19      0       0       0  112.1      148     87    73    58    76     23      1   10  550   .316     16      9     1       4      11

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Three-game series

When: Saturday through Monday (7:05 Saturday and Monday nights; 2:05 Sunday)

Where: McCormick Field, Asheville, N.C.

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (3-1, 2.05) vs. RH Stephen Dodson (1-0, 2.53); Sunday, RH Robert Bono (5-3, 2.31) vs. RH Juan Nicasio (1-0, 0.55); Monday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (3-6, 3.08) vs. RH Dan Houston (2-4, 4.39).

Jordan Pacheco

Tourist to watch: C Jordan Pacheco (6-foot-1, 195 pounds, from Albuquerque, N.M.) is all over Asheville’s offensive board. He shares the team lead in walks (16), is second in batting average (.328), home runs (5), RBI (28) and OPS (.864), third in hits (65), triples (2), total bases (95), slugging percentage (.480) and on-base percentage (.385), fourth in runs (27) and doubles (11), and fifth in stolen bases (7) over 52 games. Selected by the Colorado Rockies in the ninth round of the 2007 draft, out of the University of New Mexico, split his first season between Casper of the Pioneer League and Tri-City of the Northern League, hitting .286 over 63 games. Last season, at Tri-City, he hit .280 with a homer and 35 RBI over 54 games. Pacheco started this season with a bang, hitting. 403 over 19 games in April. He fell off to .297 over 26 games in May and is hitting .240 in his first seven games of June.

Jay Austin

Legend to watch: CF Jay Austin (5-11, 170, from Atlanta) returned to action in Friday’s doubleheader at Bowling Green. He went on the disabled list (concussion) after colliding with shortstop Jorge De Leon while pursuing a first-inning fly on May 30. Now 18, Austin was selected by the Houston Astros in the second round (56th overall) of last year’s draft, out of North Atlanta High School. According to Baseball America’s pre-season ratings, Austin was the 10th-best prospect, the best athlete and fastest baserunner in the Astros system. After batting .191 in April, he improved to .247 in May. In the eight games prior to being injured, Austin hit safely in seven games, at a .324 clip (11-for-34). Friday, he started the second game of a doubleheader, going 2-for-4 and scoring once in a 6-1 victory. Overall, Austin is hitting .231 with 10 RBI and 22 runs. He leads the Legends with eight stolen bases.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Asheville (N.C.) Tourists

What: Three-game series

When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 each night)

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call    (859) 422-7867   

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Robert Bono (5-2, 1.93) vs. RH Parker Frazier (1-5, 6.48); Tuesday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (3-5, 3.10) vs. RH Juan Nicasio (0-0, 1.00); Wednesday, RH Jordan Lyles (2-5, 3.13) vs. RH Dan Houston (1-4, 5.03).

David Christensen

Tourist to watch: RF David Christensen (6-foot-1, 195 pounds, from Margate, Fla.) is among the top 10 in the league in triples (5), homers (9), RBI (31), total bases (94), slugging percentage (.540) and OPS — on-base plus slugging percentages (.854). Also, he is hitting .259, has scored 27 runs and stolen nine bases over 47 games. Selected by the Rockies in the second round of the 2006 draft, Christensen played the past two seasons with the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League. He led the club last season with nine homers and 62 games. He also stole seven bases.

Eric Suttle

Legend to watch: RF Eric Suttle (6-0, 190, from Marietta, Ga.) is hitting .333 (8-for-24) in seven games since joining the Legends last Monday. He also has drawn five walks, boosting his on-base percentage to .448. Suttle played the last two seasons for the Southern Illinois Miners of the independent Frontier League, hitting .271 with six homers and 54 RBI over 144 games in 2008. He led the team with 47 walks last season and, just as in 2007, he totaled five outfield assists. The Astros purchased his contract rights March 11. Suttle began this season in extended spring training and was promoted in mid-May to High-A Lancaster of the California League. In 12 games with the JetHawks, Suttle was 12-for-32 (.375) with seven RBI and four runs. He has reached safely in all seven games with the Legends and takes a six-game hitting streak into Monday’s game.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300